OCR

HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS. 19
who spins a. plate on a slender rod placed on his forehead
could not do it if the plate did not turn on its axis with
great rapidity, by which means the center of gravity is kept
near the point of support.
The Spring-board Dancing Sailor.
THE spring-board of the figures is worked by the foot,
as known, and is too primitiye a device to please our mod
ern tastes.
The following modification is found effective :
Make a long, narrow stand of wood, say three inches
wide and somewhat longer than the puppet, which may be
a foot in height. On this stand, which slopes to the top
from its greatest thickness of half an inch to a quarter.
inch, fix a. springboard of flat spoon shape, the longer part
towards the thin end, by a screw-knob; the spring-board
end projects beyond the stand some few inches. On this
screw fasten an end of springy ribbon iron, to describe a
half-circle to the end of the stand, but it comes only to the
height of the back of the figure, where it is fastened firmly.
The figure may represent anything to fancy in the tem-
sichorean way, a sailor, a Lancashire clog-dancer, a negro
big boot performer, or the like. The head can be made or
bought, painted, wigged, capped. or batted at discretion.
It is to be firmly secured to the body, or the two may be of
one piece, it wooden. '
The joints are all made to swing on an axle, either being
the inlet piece, upper or under limb, and so the foot. This
is clad in a big boot, painted and leaded to make it sound
heavy on the board.
You mount it so that the feet are just off the board. On
starting the spring the dancing begins, and will continue
some time to appropriate music.
The Automaton Smoker.
THE automaton smoker is placed upon the table with a
candle near him. You take the pipe from his hand, praise
it, and ask him if he wishes to smoke. He nods his head,
so you place the pipe in his mouth, hold the candle to it,
and he begins to smoke. Or he may not do so. If he does